The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, through the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), convened the Suraksha Sankalp Karyashala in New Delhi as part of its intensified strategy to strengthen the district-level response to HIV/AIDS. The workshop focused specifically on enhancing programme implementation in the States of Haryana and Delhi.
Dr. Rakesh Gupta, Additio nal Secretary and Director General of NACO, chaired the workshop and led discussions on strengthening HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services at the grassroots level.
Setting the Context: Need for Data-Driven District Strategies
At the outset, Dr. S. P. Bhavsar (PHS Gr-I, NACO) delivered the background address and outlined the evolving epidemiological trends of HIV in India. He emphasised the growing need for granular, district-driven strategies supported by robust data analytics, targeted outreach programmes, and strengthened healthcare delivery systems.
Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of improving service accessibility and strengthening community-level interventions to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment.
Renewed Focus on the Global 95:95:95 Targets
In his keynote address, Dr. Rakesh Gupta noted that HIV/AIDS continues to remain a significant public health challenge, requiring sustained vigilance, innovation, and coordinated action across all levels of governance.
Referring to the globally endorsed 95:95:95 targets, he explained that the framework aims to ensure that:
- 95% of people living with HIV know their HIV status
- 95% of those diagnosed receive sustained Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)
- 95% of individuals on treatment achieve viral suppression
Achieving these targets would significantly reduce transmission rates and improve health outcomes for people living with HIV, he added.
Delhi and Haryana: Current Status of HIV Response
As reported by pib.gov.in, Dr. Gupta also reviewed the current HIV response in Delhi and Haryana. He pointed out that Delhi continues to face significant gaps in treatment linkage, with only about 70% of diagnosed individuals currently receiving or linked to treatment. Consequently, he stressed the urgent need to expand treatment coverage and improve retention in care.
In contrast, Haryana has achieved a cascade of approximately 81:83:95, reflecting encouraging progress. However, he emphasised that further efforts are required to strengthen diagnosis rates and improve treatment linkage.
Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission
Another key focus area discussed during the workshop was the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Dr. Gupta highlighted that HIV transmission can occur during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, but remains entirely preventable through early testing, counselling, and timely treatment.
Therefore, he called for strengthened antenatal screening programmes and universal access to prevention services, ensuring that no child is born with HIV.
Priority Districts Identified for Intensified Interventions
Highlighting the broader national strategy, Dr. Gupta informed participants that 219 districts across India have been identified as priority districts for intensified HIV/AIDS interventions. Among them, 11 districts are located in Haryana and 7 in Delhi.
He also shared key epidemiological estimates:
- Delhi: Adult HIV prevalence of 0.33%, with an estimated 59,079 people living with HIV
- Haryana: Adult HIV prevalence of 0.24%, with an estimated 59,642 people living with HIV
Under this targeted strategy, the following districts have been prioritised:
Delhi: North, New Delhi, Shahdara, Central, South East, South, and North West
Haryana: Panipat, Rohtak, Sirsa, Jhajjar, Gurugram, Faridabad, Bhiwani, Hisar, Sonipat, Kaithal, and Fatehabad
District Teams Share Progress and Challenges
District programme teams from these priority areas actively participated in the Karyashala. During the sessions, they presented progress reports, discussed operational challenges, and collaborated on developing targeted action plans to strengthen HIV programme implementation at the grassroots level.
This interactive platform allowed stakeholders to exchange practical insights and identify locally relevant strategies for improving service delivery.
Emphasising a Whole-of-System Approach
Dr. Gupta also stressed the importance of adopting a whole-of-system approach. He urged stakeholders at national, state, and district levels to work in close coordination, particularly at the field level, to bridge gaps in awareness, testing, treatment initiation, and long-term adherence to therapy.
Roadmap Towards Controlling the HIV Epidemic
Looking ahead, Dr. Gupta outlined an ambitious roadmap for the national HIV response. He reiterated India’s commitment to declaring HIV/AIDS as an epidemic under control by World AIDS Day 2027.
In this context, he encouraged programme teams to strive towards an enhanced target of 95:95:99, which would further strengthen treatment outcomes and viral suppression rates in the coming programme cycle.
Strengthening Collaboration and Evidence-Based Interventions
The Suraksha Sankalp Karyashala serves as an important platform for collaborative planning among national, state, and district stakeholders. The initiative aims to strengthen HIV prevention and testing services, improve treatment linkage and retention, and enhance viral load suppression among people living with HIV.
Moreover, the programme places strong emphasis on targeted outreach among vulnerable and key populations, ensuring inclusive and equitable healthcare access.
Advancing the Goal of Ending AIDS by 2030
Deliberations during the workshop focused on strengthening programme implementation through inter-sectoral convergence, capacity building, and robust monitoring mechanisms. Participants also highlighted the importance of early diagnosis, timely treatment initiation, sustained ART adherence, and eliminating stigma and discrimination associated with HIV.
Overall, the initiative aligns with India’s commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, reflecting the Government’s continued dedication to a comprehensive, evidence-based, and people-centric approach to HIV/AIDS prevention and control.